Sound reproducing apparatus



Dec. 25, 1928.

M. WEIL SOUND REPRODUC ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1925 4 Sheets-Shet 1INVENTOR Maximilian Wf'z'l Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,872

' M. WElL SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet3 I I INVENTOR flfairzmzlzan Wee! BY OQG/MLQZMAMI AYQM ATIIORNEYS Dec.25,1928.

M 1,696,872 M. WElL SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fl/(n'mi/[arz [47 z] QEWWYW M ATTORNEYS PatentedDec. 25, 1928,

tween PATENT 'QFFEQE,

MAXIMILIAN WEIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUND-BEPRODUCING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 1, 1925. Serial No. 59,783.

, My present invention relates primarily to combination apparatus forutilizing a common amplifier alternatively with either of two soundreproducers, and has a preferred application in apparatus of this typeembodying a phonographic and a telephonic reproducer.

It is among the objects of the invention, from one of its aspects, toprovide apparatus of the above type, which will permit, in addition tothe choice of reproducers for operative coaction with the commonamplifier, the ready modulation of the volume of sound emitted from theamplifier, and which will preclude in all adjustments thereof, therattle or disturbing resonance efiect due to an '1 open communicationbetween the vibrating elements of the two reproducers.

Another object is to provide a valve construction performing the objectspreviously noted, which shall yet be of simple and'rug- 1 godconstruction and occupy only little space.

The invention is preferably embodied in a rotary valve, the end of whichdelivers into the amplifier horn, while the vibrations from thereproducers are admitted into the valve case, through independent portstherein with either-of which a single lateral port in the retary valvecan be brought into registry. The ports in the valve case are preferablyof equal widthand equal to that of the valve port, and are spaced at oneside by a width of wall which may be equal to, but is preferably greaterthan that of the valve port, stop means being provided to prevent rotarydisplacement of the valve port beyond the are intercepted by the twocasing ports and the intervening casing wall. Preferably, the valve andits casing are cylindrical, and the valve is formed with a substantiallyspherical web, connecting the port in the wall thereof with the open endthereof, so that the sound waves from either reproducer can proceed in acontinuous sweep along said web.

While a valve of the character described is of use in different types ofsound amplifiers, it has a special application to phonographs offamiliar or conventional construction, in which the usual phonographamplifier serves also as the amplifier or loud speaker for a radio set,and the novel valve construction referred to is applicable both tophonographs specially built, to serve alternatively as radio loudspeakers and to phonographs of more conventional construction, notspecially designed for radio application.

The invention from another aspect, has as an object to readily adapt anyphonograph of familiar type that is not intended or primarily designedto function as a radio loud speaker, to be operated at will as such andwithout thereby imparting the capability of operation of the instrumentas a phonograph. More specifically, it is among the objects to adapt aphonograph of the kind mentioned for radio loud speaker use, without theneed in installation, for removal of the motorboard or access to theamplifier, or mutilation thereof, and, in fact, without the use of anytool other than an ordinary screw driver or of any operation that cannotbe completed by an unskilled person in a few minutes.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type last noted whichcomprises a single compact and rugged unit of small bulk and littlecost, that need merely be substituted for the ordinary tone arm base andutilizes, without alteration, the tone arm intended for the phonographand which enhances rather than detracts from the appearance of theinstrument to which it is applied.

Another object is to provide a construction of the type last noted whichwill in no way interfere with or impair the performance of, or alterthemode of operation of the instrument as a phonograph, or involve anyadded weight to be entrained by the phonograph record, and which willprovide telephonic or radio reproduction of superior quality.

In a preferred construction, my unit includes a single generallyrectangular block,

casting or base, having an opening in its lower face for registry withthe amplifier inlet opening, usually provided in the motor-board andhaving a rotary valve above said opening and in a correspondingcylindrical hole in the casting, which constitutes the valve case and ispreferably of the character before referred to. The support castingcarries a telephonic reproducer near one end thereof, and affords a.support or base for the tone arm near the other end thereof, the valveoperating handle or knob projecting upward from the support between saidtelephonic reproducer and said tone arm. The tone arm delivers the phonographic vibrations through a. passage in the casting to one of the portsin the valve case and the telephonic reproducer delivers its vibrationsthrough a passageway in the casting to the other of the ports in thevalve case.

Inasmuch as it is desired to cause a continual widening of the wavefront from the telephonic reproducer to the throat of the amplifier andas for compactness of construction, the telephonic reproducer is quiteclose to the valve, the casting is formed with a voluteshaped divergingpassageway leading from the telephonic reproduce-r to the valve.

Inasmuch as the casting embodying the passages or conduit-s set forth isof height greater than the conventional tone arm base, which itreplaces, the tone arm is thereby mounted at greater elevation and inthe absence of further precautions, the stylus of the sound box would,of course, contact the record at a steeper angle. This is obviated bythe simple expedient of forming the unit with a pivot axis for the tonearm inclined forward at a compensating angle. As the tone arm is mountedto the side of the aperture in the motorboard, the casting is formed sothat the mount-ing axis of the tone arm is sufliciently close to theturn table to permit the stylus to reach the turn table shaft as inordinary constructions.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the various features of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the portion of a phonograph apparatus,showin the motorboard and the unit which is to be placed thereon inraised position prior to attachment,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the case or frame portion of the unit,the closure portion having been removed;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4L-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the control valve, with the indicating meansand knob removed;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line 77 of Fig. 1, showingthe method of attachment of one form of phonograph tonearm;

Fig. 8 is a. view similar .to Fig. 7, showing a modification of thedevice for the attachment of a modified form of tone-arm;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the method of attachment ofa modified form of telephonic reproduce-r; and

Fig. 10 is a dropped perspective view of portions of Fig. 9.

,The phonograph 11 shown of conventional construction includes a motorboard 12 above which is the usual turn table 13 that carries the diskrecord (not shown) and is rotated by a motor not shown. The drawingshows a motor board devoid of the tone-arm base and indicates thecircular aperture 14 there in thro-ughwliich the tone-arm delivers intothe amplifier 15.

According to my invention in a preferred embodiment there is substitutedfor the tonearm base the unit U shown in perspective in Fig. 1 which issimply superposed upon the motor board, and preferably secured theretoby a couple of screws through apertures 16 in lugs 17 at the oppositeends thereof. The unit is preferably a cast metal structure the detailsof which are best shown in Figs. 2 to 5, having a central opening 18 inits lower face for registry with the opening 14 in the motor boardthrough which are delivered into the throat of the amplifier vibrationsdelivered either from the tone-arm which is mounted at socket 19 on theupper face of the casting, in the embodiment shown, at the right handpart thereof, or from a telephonic receiver which is mounted in a socket20 on the upper face of the casting and in the embodiment shown, at theleft hand part thereof. Communication is established at will to thean'iplifier from either the tone-arm or the telephonic element by avalve embodied in the construction, interposed between the tonearm andthe telephonic reproducer, at the upper face of the casting, alignedwith opening 18, and operated'by a knob 21 between the telephonic andtone-arm supports.

Proceeding now, to the detailed construction of the unit, the same mayinclude a casting 22 in the form of a. supporting block, frame, casingor box the upper face of which is formed to support the valve at themiddle, and the tone-arm and telephonic elements at the sides thereof aspreviously suggested, and as will be describedat greater lengthhereinafter. The casing has a peripheral support flange 23 which restsupon the motor board and is cast with channels 25 and 26 therein, to bedescribed more fully hereinafter. The support flange 23 of the supportcasting is provided with short projections or 24 at suitably spacedintervals so that the entire device will rest firmly upon the motorboardwithout any possibility of rocking. Channel 25 communicates from thetone-arm socket 19 to a central opening 2'? in the cast ing, circular incross-sections and constituting a valve case part. The other channel 26communicates with said valve case part from the outlet 28 within thesupport socket 20 for the telephonic element. A generally rec-- tangularclosure plate or false bottom 23 inserted into the rectangularsupporting frame or casing, said closure casting having channels 25 and2 therein complementary to the corresponding channels and 26 the supportcasting, and leadin to a central valve case opening 27' aligned with thecorresponding opening 27 in the castin "52, to form the complete valvecase. The walls of the channels and chambers are made as thin asstrength and soundproof efliciency will permit, with the object in Viewof-inaking the entire device as light in weight as possible. Thecomplementary channels and 25 on the one hand and 26 and 26 on theother, form sound tubes or passages which are preferably generallycircular in cross section, and deliver into the valve case 27respectively at corresponding ports 37 and 38 therein. It is found thatby merely applying shellac to the borders or the flat contacting edgesof the complementary casting the sound tubes are rendered substantiallysound tight at the joints between the constituenthalves of the castingwhen secured together by screws 30. lVhile it is desirable to form thebase of two complementary castings in the manner set forth for facilityof coring, the device may, if desired, be cast in a single piece.

V The valve knob 21 has an integral pointer 31 moving in the adjustmentthereof over a dial 32 fixed by stud 32 in the upper face of thecasting, said dial indicating the setting of the instrument in manner tobe described more fully below. To enhance the appear ance of theinstrument and to facilitate reading of the dial, it is not in a.horizontal but in a forwardly inclined plane as shown, and the axis ofthe valve and of its case are thus correspondingly inclined forward. Thevalve case 2727 is preferably cylindrical as shown and the valve 33therein comprises a casting having a flange 3% at its upper edge restingon the support casting 22. The valve 33 has an arcuate generallyspherical web 35 determining a port, or notch 36 in the side wall of thevalve and extending peripherally of the lower rim of the valve whichaccordingly is open throughout its area as shown. Anintegral axial hub 75 protrudes at an angle upward from web 35, and has a stud 76 at theupper end thereof over which the knob 21 is telescoped and keyed by aspline 77 on the stud, a set screw 78 through the end of the knobsecuringit to said stud.

The width and height of the valve port 36 are preferably substantiallyequal to the corresponding dimensions of the ports 37 and 38 in thecylindrical valve ase so that when the valve port 36' is in fullregistry with either of said case ports, the valve will afford acontinuous unthrottled passageway for transmitting the vibrations fromthe corresponding telephonic or phonographic conduit into-the amplifierhorn;

Preferably, as shown, the valve case ports 37 and 38 are so arrangedthat the width of wall portion 39 between them subtends an arc greater,as shown, than-either of said ports. It will, therefore, be seen thatwhen the valve is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 3 in clockwisedirection to change over from the radio connection shown in that figureto phonographic connection, the valve can in no intermediate position,at any time, establish a communication between the telephonic conduit 26and the phonographic conduit 25.

As shown, the valve ports have widths substantially in the order of thediameter of the tone-arm support socket 19 and the diameter of the valveis yet to be maintained at a minimum. The two valve casing ports 37 and38 of the intervening wall port 39 are therefore preferably of acombined width almost equal 1 to the circumference of the valve casing.Only a narrow part of the valve casing wall shown at 40 remains betweenthe edges of the ports 37 and 38 opposite those separated by wallportion 39. Were the valve port allowed to straddle the narrow wallstrip 40 vibrations originating in one reproducer would impinge on theother, causing rattle and undesirable resonance. This is obviated by thesimple expedient of providing a stop for the valve, limiting the rotarydisplacement there of, so that the uninterrupted part of the valve wallcan at no time uncover the wall strip 40. This result is accomplished byproviding in the upper edge of the valve case 40 a stop stud or screw 41exteriorly of support flange 34: and in the path of theends of asegmental flange 42 protruding therebyond from said support flange andof such length that the ends thereof, when contacting the stop screwdetermines the desired limiting positions of the valve.

For reasons well understood, it is desired to provide an amplifyingstructure diverging continuously from the small exposed opening 28through which the telephonic reproducer delivers, to the valve casingport 38 which is of much larger diameter. Inasmuch as the telephonicunit T is closely adjacent the valve 33 as shown, there is aninsuflicient interval or space therebetween to admit of gradualdivergence of an ordinary conduit wall. I have produced the resultdesired in manner best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by providing a conduitintervening between the telephonic element and the valve case ofsubstantial length and gradually diverging from its inlet to its outletend, said conduit being disposed within the limited space available byforming the same of volute or rams horn shape. as shown. The outer wallof the outlet end of conduit 26 as shown extends substantiallytangentially of the valve case 27 so that a. greater width of the portresults and the length of said conduit is increased as compared with aconstruction in which the conduit extends radially into the valve case.With the phonographic conduit 25 extending directly or radially inwardtoward the valve case and of relatively short length there is thusprovided the desirable relation previously described of the two valveports 37 and 38 in the valve case spaced by a relatively wideintervening wall portion 39 at one side thereof and by a relativelyminute wall portion 40 at the other side thereof.

In the relation disclosed in which my unit is employed for the purposeof adapting an ordinary phonograph for use, at will, as a radio loudspeaker, it is desirable to utilize the tone arm initially provided forsuch phonograph without any alteration thereof. Inasmuch as my unitpresents a. support base of height greater than the ordinary tone armbase that it replaces, the pivot mount of the sound box is sustainedhigher than usual, and the sound box would tilt forward at a. steeperangle for its stylus to contact the record. In order to obviate thiscondition and cause the stylus to extend at correct angle relative tothe record, I have simply tilted forward the pivot axis provided by myunit for the tone arm through a compensating angle as appears best inFigs. 7 and 8. The tone arm being mounted, with the use of my unit,laterally of the motorboard aperture, the mounting socket or axis forthe tone arm on the casting unit is disposed nearer the front of themotorboard than is said aperture, so that the mount of the tone arm isat the same distance from the turn table shaft as in the tone arm basereplaced by my invention. Accordingly, the stylus on the tone arm whendrawn inward to its limit will substantially contact the turntableshaft.

I have constructed my unit to be universally applicable to either of thetwo general wellknown types of tone arm one of which is shown in Fig. 7and has a pivot mount eX- ternally thereof and the other of which isshown in Fig. 8 and has the pivot stud there for extending therethrough.For the embodiment of Fig. 7 a special bracket 42 is secured by screws48 in a corresponding notch 44 in the wall of the casing and provides anarm 45 extending upward therefrom, at the upper v end of which there issecured the pivot stud 46 maintained in place by a set screw 47 antextending into the usual depression 48 in the upper part of the standardtype of tone-arm shown. The socket 19 for mounting the tonearm hasmounted therein the stamped sup porting frame 49 which may be keyedtherein at 50 and upon which the lower end of the tone-arm rests.Support frame 49 is removable and may be replaced by a smaller one ofsimilar construction for mounting a tone-arm of smaller dimensions.

For mounting a tone-arm of the type shown in Fig. 8 there is usedinstead of the bracket shown in Fig. 7, a bracket 51 secured by screws52 in the same manner as that of Fig. 7 and having a correspondingtonearm support socket 53 cast unitary therewith and fitting into thesocket 19 in the support casting, socket 58 providing a unitary spiderconstruction 54 into the hub 55 of which is threaded the pivot stud 56for the tone-arm A which latter is sustained at its upper end at 57 uponthe pointed end of said stuc 56. Any other type of tone-arm may, ofcourse, readily be mounted on my tone-arm base by providing the propersecuring means.

The device may be used with substantially any type of telephonicreproducer or receiver and as the electrical details of such device arenot material to the present invention they are not described. The modeof mounting the telephonic reproducer may be briefly indicated. In Fig.4 is shown one type of such reproducer which comprises a base 58supporting the constituent diaphragm and electro-magnetic parts (notshown). Base 58 fits into the integral socket 20 therefor in the castingand rests upon the base thereof to which it is attached by screws 59,the connection being rendered sound tight by an interposed compressiblegasket 60 pressed into a corresponding annular depression in the castingas shown. The base 58 is enclosed in a cover piece 61 telescopedthereover and in turn secured to the base by screws 62. As shown, thetelephonic element and its socket are inclined forward forattractiveness of appearance to conform with the forward inclination ofthe dial 32 and of the tonearm, A.

In Fig. 9, is shown an alternative mount for a telephonic r'eproducer.In this embodiment the electro-magnetic diaphragm 63 is rested upon agasket 64 in the socket of the support base and an internally threadedring 65 is superposed over the rim of the diaphragm and clamped thereonby a plu- "ality of screws 66threaded into the casting. The case 67 ofthe reproducer which includes the pole pieces 68 and coils (not shown)has an attachment flange 69 to be threaded into the ring 65 andobviously adjustable thereby to regulate the gap between the pole pieces68 and the diaphragm 63. In Fig. 10 the gasket 64, the diaphragm 63, andthe clamping ring 65 are shown in dropped perspective. A corrugatedspring ring 70 is also shown superposed over the clamping ring to reactagainst the case member 67 and maintain the threaded parts againstcoming loose from adjusted position.

Assuming the instrument is to be installed on an already completedphonograph of familiar type not primarily intended for radio use, theordinary tone-arm base (not shown) is merely removed, and the unit Ushown in Fig. 1 is substituted therefor, the valve outlet 18 beingbrought into registry with aperture 14 in the motor board and screwsapplied through apertures 16, if desired, to attach the block to themotor board. The tone arm removed from the replaced tone-arm base maynow be applied at the socket19 therefor in the manner previouslydescribed, the bracket 42 or 51 being previously attached to the blockdepending on whether the type of tone-arm shown in Fig. 7 or that ofFig. 8 is employed. The installation is now complete.

For phonograph use the sound box stylus is set upon the record in theusual manner and the knob 21 is turned so that the pointer 31 extendstoward the side of the dial marked Record. When the pointer is ioo movedto the extreme position the valve port 36 is brought into full registrywith the valve case port 37 from the phonograph tone-arm. The phonographwill now function in exactly the same manner as theretofore. The soundvibrations from the tonearm are conveyed through the passage 25 whichpreferably diverges slightly and the wave front advances in a continuousand unobstructed curved path along the arcuate web 35 of the valve intothe amplifier throat.

By setting the valve pointer 31 in any intermediate position betweenthat indicated as off and the extreme of the scale at the rec- 0rd sideof the dial, the valve passage may be throttled to a variable extent sothat my unit affords an eflicient tone modifier to reduce the volumeemitted by the phonograph.

In order to cause the instrument to perform from the telephonicreproducer in order to function, for instance, as a radio loud speakerthe knob 21 is merely turned so that its pointer 81 extends at the sideof the dial marked Radio. When at the extreme of its scale it affords afully open connection as shown inFig. 3 from thetelephonic reproducerinto the amplifier. In this relation it will be seen that there isprovided a continuous long diverging passageway from the telephonic unitthrough the casting unit advancing along the continuously curved walldetermined by the valve web, and thence directly into the throat of theamplifier. Leakage of sound is avoided and the superior tone qualitiesof the highly developed phonograph amplifier are utilized to their fulladvantage for radio reproduction. Moreover, when the knob is moved to aposition at the side marked Radio? and between the ends of the scale,thepassage isthrottled downv and thus the volume in radio reproductionmay be cut down independently of the electrical adj ust ments of thereceiving set. To avoid leakage from between the miit and the motorboard, I prefer as shown in Fig 5 to provide a yielding, preferably arubber ring 71 in acorresponding gr'oove about the valve inthe lowerface of the unit which ring is compressed by.

the weight thereof when resting onlegs 24 and affords a sound tightcommunication to the motor board aperture by reason of the weight of theunit, even ifthe unit is not screwed to the motor board.

Inall settings of the valve, communication between the undesired conduitand the amplifying horn isfeffectually shut offiand the compact andstaunch construction of the entire device renders this shut offcondition entirely soundproof, leakage being prevented by the valve 33.In no position of the valve is there ever any intercommufnicationbetween both conduits. The movement of the valve from one extremeposition to the other position at which time communication be-' tweenboth conduits is effectually shut off from the outlet 18. Moreover, therotary valve, is sufficiently tight in its case to preclude any rattlingor setting up of vibrations of its own, and leakage or interferencewhich may attend the use of flap or disc or spring actuated valves forthis purpose, is avoided.

My valve arrangement, whereby there is eliminated for the extreme aswell as for all intermediate settings thereof, the disturbing effect ofvibrations originating at the diaphragm of one of the reproducers andimpinging on the other is claimed by me as of more general applicationto sound reproducers other than that specifically shown in the drawing.

It will be understood that although in a preferred construction I mountthe tone-arm at one side of the valve knob and the independentreproducer at the other side thereof, my invention is not limited tosucharrangement. For instance, in a phonograph apparatus wherein thetone-arm is mounted at the corner of the motor board, it might beprefoperates with substantial volume even when disconnected from theamplifier, to deliver directly into the room past the rim of opening 18.It is preferred, however, toemploy the unit in the relation shown anddescribed.

It will be understood that while the invention has a preferredapplication for operation at will either from a phonographic or atelephonic reproducer, it may be used to advan.-.

tage in relations in which either of two reproducers of the same typeare connected through a common amplifier and the principle of theinvention may be carried forward for selectively connecting any one ofthree or more sources of sound, to speak through a common As manychanges could be made in the above constnuction, and many apparentlywidely different embodiments of this invention could be made withoutdeparting from the scopethereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim 1. A unit for attachment in lieu of the tone arm base upon themotorboard of a phonograph, said unit comprising a support having anopening in its lower face registering with the amplifier inlet in themotorboard, said support constituting a base for the tone arm mountedthereon and including a passageway therein from the tone arm to saidopening, said support also mounting a telephonic reproducer and having asecond passageway in said chamber for optionally sealing either or bothconduits from said aperture.

3. A unit for attachment in lieu of the tone arm base upon themotorboard of a phonograph, said unit comprising a support having anopening in its lower face registering with the amplifier inlet in themotorboard, said support constituting a base for a tone arm mountedthereon and including a passageway therein from the tone arm to saidopening, said support also mounting a telephonic reproducer and having asecond passageway therein merging with said first passageway at saidopening, and a valve mounted in said support and accessible from theexterior thereof'for interposing a barrier at will across either of saidpassageways.

a. A unit for application to the motorboard of a phonograph cabinet inlieu of the ordinary tone arm base, said unit comprising a base havingan outlet in its lower face for registry with the corresponding aperturein the motorboard that leads to the amplifier, said base mountin atelephonic reproducer at one end thereof and including therein apassageway, communicating with said reproducer at its upper and outerend, delivering into the outlet and diverging from the telephonic to theoutlet end thereof, a tone arm pivoted upon the base at the other endthereof, a passageway through said base from said tone arm alsodelivering into the opening through the bottom of the base, and a valvesupported in the base between the telephonic ,reproducer and the tonearm and having an operating member exposed above said base, and servingalternatively to shut off communication with the outlet from either thereproducer or the tone arm.

5. An article of the character described, comprisinga support havingmeans for carrying a tone arm, a valve adjusting knob and dial and atelephonic reproducer, said three elements arranged side by side on saidsupport and in close contiguity, said support including a cylind "icalvalve case aligned with said dial, a cylindrical valve in said case anddelivering through an opening in the face of said support opposite saiddial, said support having therein an elongated passageway of voluteform, for communication at its inlet end with the telephonic reproducerandat its outlet end with the lateral Wall of the valve case anddiverging from its inlet to its outlet end, and a passage forcommunication from the tonearm through said support and also deliveringinto the cylindrical wall of said valve case, said valve having alateral port therein to establish communication to an outlet in the endthereof, either from said tone arm or from said telephonic reproducerdepending on the position of the valve, while sluitting offcommunication from the other of said elements.

6. A unit adapted to be mounted on the motorboard of a phonograph inlieu of the usual tone arm base, said unit comprising a generallyrectangular block having on the upper face and near one end thereof,mounting means for pivotally supporting a phonograph tone arm, andhavingnear the other end thereof, mounting means for a telephonicreproducer, a valve knob and a dial therefor interposed between said twomounting means, said dial leaving small clearance with respect to saidreproducer and tone armmounts, a cylindrical valve case in said unitbelow said valve dial communicating through the lower face of said unit,apassage in said unit from said tone arm mount, communicating into alateral port in said valve chamber, a passage way of greater length thanthe distance between the valve case and the telephone reproducer andextending in volute shape from the latter to a corresponding port in theformer, and diverging continuously from its inlet to its outlet end, anda cylindrical valve connected to said valve knob and rotatable withinsaid valve case, said valvehaving a port in the lateral wall thereofadapted to register with either of said valve case ports while thestructure of the valve closes the other of aid ports.

7 In a combined phonograph-radio ap paratus, in combination, anamplifier, a phonograph reproducer, a telephonic reproducer, astationary valve member, conduits from said reproducers to saidamplifier, said conduits each including a stationary part deliveringinto a distinct port at said stationary valve member, a movable valvehaving a port adapted to register with either of said stationary ports,the distance along said valve casein the path of movement of said valvetherein between the stationary ports thereof being of" greater widththan that of said valve port, whereby in all positions of said valve atleast one of the reproducers is shut off from the amplifier.

8. In a phonograph-radio apparatus, in combination, an amplifier, avrotary valve associated with the inlet end thereof for the communicationthereto at will of vibrations either from a phonograph or telephonicreproducer, said valve comprising a fixed case having distinct ports inthe wall thereof ISO ' asymmetrically of thecase and, affordingpassageways for vibrations from the respective reproducers, and a rotaryvalve fitting within said case and opening through an end thereof, anoperating handle for said valve, said valve having a lateral portadapted to register with either of the ports in the valve case, saidvalve port of width no greater than the wall part between the adjacentedges of the case ports, and means limiting the rotary movement of saidvalve to confine the path. of said valve port to the length of aresubtended by said case ports and the intervening wall portion of greaterwidth.

9. .The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the valve case portsare of width of the order of the diameter of the outlet end of the tonearm and the circumference of the valve case is only a little in excessof the combined arouate widths of the valve case ports and of theintervening wall part of greater width.

10. In a phonograph-radio apparatus, in combination, an amplifier, arotary valve associated with the inlet end thereof for communicationthereto at will of vibrations either from a phonographic or a telephonicreproducer, said valveincluding a stationary case having ports in thelateral wall thereof, to which vibrations are delivered from therespective reproducers, said ports of substantially equal width, andspaced at one side by a width of wall subtending an are greater thanthat of one of said ports and at the other side by a substantiallylesser width, said rotary valve having a port in the wall. thereof ofwidth equal to that of the case ports and delivering through the endthereof into the amplifier, and means to limit the rotary displacementof said valve port through an arc limitedat the ends of said case portsmore remote from saidintervening wall part, whereby said valve in noposition of setting will establish communication between said tworeproducers.

11. In a phonographradio apparatus, in combination, an amplifier, atelephonic reproducer and a phonographic reproducer, means forestablishing communication at will from either of said elements to thethroat of said amplifier, said means comprising a rotary valve includinga stationary cylindrical case opening at its end into the throat of theamplifier, a pair of ports in the wall of said casing of equal width andcommunicating respectively with the telephonic and the phonographicreproducers, said ports spaced at one side by a width of wall subtendingarc-greater than the width of either of said ports, and a rotarycylindrical valve member in said casing having aport in the side t ereofof width substantially equal to that of said case ports, and meanslimiting the rotary displacement of said valve to prevent the valve portfrom being displaced beyond registry with the case ports at the sideopposite said width of wall, whereby said valve in each position willshut off communication from one or the other of said ports.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which the valve has aflange at the upper end thereof, resting on the case and a segmentalextension on said flange, the opposite ends of which are adapted tocontact a stop lug secured in the case for limiting the rotarydisplacement of the valve.

13. In a phonograph-radio apparatus, in combination, an amplifier, avalve case circular in cross-section having an opening at the endthereof leading into the amplifier, a conduit to deliver from aphonograph reproducer and delivering into said valve case from one sideand substantially radially thereof, a conduit to deliver from atelephonic reproducer and extending from the opposite side anddelivering into said valve case substantially tangentially thereof, thevalve case ends of said conduits determining ports in said case of equaldimensions closely contiguous to each other at one edge and separated atthe other edges thereof, by a width of wall greater than the width ofeach of said ports, and a valve in said case having a port therein ofwidth equal to that of said case ports, said port connected by a curvelweb to deliver through the lower open end of the valve into the throatof the amplifier.

14. A device for use with phonograph apparatus having an amplifying hornand an apertured motorboard thereover, said device comprising a unitmountable upon the motorboard over said aperture and having acylindrical open-ended chamber overlying the aperture and a pair ofconduits terminat ing in opposite walls of said chamber, and acylindrical control valve in said chamber for optionally sealing eitheror both of said conduits from said aperture, said valve including acylindrical wall portion having a poripheral flange supported over oneend of said chamber, and a substantially concave- -convex web extendingobliquely and transversely thereof.

15. In combination, a cabinet having an amplifier therein, a motorboardthereon having an aperture leading into the throat of the amplifier, areproducer unit resting upon said inotorboard and having an outlet inthe lower face thereof registering with said motorboard aperture, saidunit including a pair of passageways opening at the exterior the 'eofand merging at said outlet, a telephonic re producer at the exposed endof one of said conduits, and a tone arm movably secured at the exposedend of the other of said conduits.

16. The combination with a phonograph, including a motorboard having anopening therein and an amplifier registering with and connected to theunderface of the motorboard about said opening, of a separable structuresupported upon. the motorboard, and including a tone arm and a telephonereceiver, said structure having a pair of passageways therein, connectedrespectively with the tone arm and the receiver, and both communicatwiththe amplifier, and a common control member for both passageways mountedin the structure directly above the opening in the motorboard.

17. In com ination, a cabinet having an amplifier therein, a motorboardthereon having an aperture leading into the throat of the amplifier, areproducer unit resting upon said motorboard and having an outlet in thelower face thereof registering with said motorboard aperture, a valvedial at the upper face of said unit between the ends thereof, astationary valve case below said dial, a valve therein, a tone armsocket on said unit closely adjacent said dial and at one side thereof,a

socket on said unit for sustaining a telephonic reproducer, closely adacent said dial and at the other side thereof, conduits in said unitextending from said tone arm mount and said telephonic reproducer soc ctrespectively to deliver into lateral ports in said valve case, saidvalve having an arcuate web leading from aport in the late alfacet-hereof through the end thereof to deliver, depending upon itssetting, from either the tone arm or the telephonic reproducer into thethroat of the amplifier.

18. In combination, a cabinet having an amplifier therein, a motor-boardthereon having an aperture leading into the throat of the amplifier, areproducer unit resting upon said motorboard, said unit including acylindrical valve therein, extending directly above said amplifierthroat, and operable from the upper part of said unit, a telephonicreprodncer contiguous to said valve at one side thereof, a tone armmount contiguous to said valve at the other side thereof, said mountcomprising a socket in the upper face of the unit, conduits within saidunit- GX- tending therethrough to deliver into the valve case at portsin the side wall thereof, said valve having a port adapted to registerwholly or in part with either of said case ports and delivering throughthe end thereof into the amplifier, the conduit from the tele phonereproducer to the valve case extending in volute form and diverging fromits inlet to its outlet end.

19. A device for use with phonograph apiaratus, said device comprising atwopart unit including a case member having a flange adapted to rest ona phonograph motorboard, said case member having channels in the lowerface thereof leading from openings near the opposite end, said casehaving a central opening therethrough into which said channels lead attheir inner ends, a false bottom or closure member within said casemember having channels in the upper face thereof complementary to thegrooves in the case member and forming conduits therewith and having acentral aperture into which said CllflllilGlS merge, aligned with the.

' mounted in said chamber for optionally sealeither or both of saidconduits from said aperture, said valve comprising a cylindrical wallportion, a substantially spherical web extending diagonally betweenopposite sides of the wall, and an integral axial control shaft carriedby said web.

21. A device for use with phonograph apparatus having an amplifying hornand an apertured motorboard thereover, said device comprising a unitmountable upon the motorboard over said aperture and having a pair ofconduits terminating in a common chamber overlying said aperture, saidchamber having a circular opening adapted to register with saidaperture, and a resilient ring carried about said circular opening andsustaining the weight of said unit to render sound-tight the connectionof said unit to said aperturcd motorboard.

22. In a radio accessory for a phonograph, a unit to be mounted on topof a motorboard in lieu of the tone arm base and including a telephonicreceiver, said unit protruding by a substantial height above themotorboard, a tone arm movably secured thereon having its lower end at asubstantial distance above the level of the motorboard, said tone armincluding a sound box, the mounting axle of said tone arm being inclinedforward from the vertical to compensate for the elevated positionthereof, in order to cause the stylus thereof to engage the record atsubstantially the same angle as it would, Were the tone arm mounted onan ordinary tone arm base.

23. In a radio accessory for a phonograph, a unit to be mounted on topof aphonograph in lieu of the tone arm base and including a telephonicreceiver, said unit protruding by a substantial height above themotorboard, a tone arm removably secured upon the unit, having its lowerend at a substantial distance above the level of the motorboard, saidtone arm including a sound box, the mounting arin base, the mountingaxis of the tone arm axis of said tone arm being inclined forward beingat a distance from the turntable shaft from the vertical to compensatefor the eleequal to that of the stylus from said axis. 10 'vatedposition thereof, in order to cause the Signed at New York city, in thecounty of 5 stylus thereof to engage the record at suh- New York andState of New York, this 29th stantially the same angle as it Would, Weredayof September, A. D. 1925. the tone arin mounted on an ordinary toneMAXIMILIAN WEIL.

